Opinion
No. 04-CV-6601 (CJS) (VEB).
June 20, 2007
ORDER
Michael J. Hill ("Hill" or "petitioner"), acting pro se, seeks a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 on the basis that his conviction on March 7, 1990, by a guilty plea to one count of first degree manslaughter in satisfaction of an indictment charging him with second degree murder, was unconstitutionally obtained. See Petition (Dkt. #1). This matter has been referred to the undersigned for the purpose of, inter alia, hearing and deciding all non-dispositive motions. See Dkt. #27. Hill sought and was granted permission to proceed in forma pauperis. See Dkt. ##5, 6. Hill's application for the appointment of counsel, made in connection with his in forma pauperis application, was denied as premature. See Dkt. #6. Hill has again moved for the appointment of counsel to represent him in connection with his habeas petition. See Dkt. #28.
Prisoners have no constitutional right to counsel when bringing collateral attacks upon their convictions. Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551, 555 (1987); Murray v. Giarratano, 492 U.S. 1 (1989). However, a district court may exercise its discretion to appoint counsel for indigents in civil cases such as Hill's petition for a writ of habeas corpus; the authority to do so comes from 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d): "`The court may request an attorney to represent any such person unable to employ counsel and may dismiss the case if the allegation of poverty is untrue, or if satisfied that the action is frivolous or malicious.'" Hodge v. Police Officers, 802 F.2d 58, 60 (2d Cir. 1986) (quoting 28 U.S.C. 1915(d)); accord Hendricks v. Coughlin, 114 F.3d 390, 392 (2d Cir. 1997). "In habeas corpus cases, counsel must be appointed for qualified indigents when a hearing is required; the court may appoint counsel at an earlier stage if it deems appointment desirable." Id. at 60 (citing Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts, Rule 8(c) and Advisory Committee Notes).
Factors to be assessed by the district court in deciding whether to discretionarily appoint counsel to represent an indigent petitioner include the following: whether the indigent's claims seem likely to be of substance, the indigent's ability to investigate the crucial facts concerning his claim; whether conflicting evidence implicating the need for cross-examination will be the major proof presented to the fact finder, the indigent's ability to present the case, the complexity of the legal issues and any specific reason in that case why appointment of counsel would be more likely to lead to a just determination. Hodge, 802 F.2d at 61-62; accord Hendricks v. Coughlin, 114 at 392. The Second Circuit explained that not "all, or indeed any, of the factors must be controlling in a particular case[;]" rather, "[e]ach case must be decided on its own facts." Id.
Hill's primary contention is that his trial counsel coerced him into pleading guilty by telling him that "since it was his first felony he wouldn't receive the maximum sentence for a B felony, and would more likely get a 3 to 9 [-year sentence]." See Respondent's Memorandum of Law at 5 (Dkt. #10) (quoting Petitioner's Affidavit in Support of Motion to Vacate the Judgment at para. 2, filed October 5, 2004). Hill also contends that the factual allocution of his plea was insufficient because he allegedly never admitted to having participated in the murder; that the trial judge "intimidated" him through "trickery/fraud" in order to obtain the guilty plea; and that the prosecutor withheld information about a cooperating witness in violation of the state's obligation to disclose evidence favorable to the defendant under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and Giglio v. United States, 450 U.S. 150, 154 (1972). See, e.g., Petitioner's Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Evidentiary Hearing at 6-12 (Dkt. #26). Hill provides two reasons as to why he is entitled to the appointment of counsel. First, he contends that he is "not able to do an adequate job of representing [himself] . . . because of the complexed [sic] legal issues" presented by his petition. Petitioner's Motion for Appointment of Counsel at 2 (Dkt. #28). The Court has reviewed Hill's habeas petition and respondent's answer to the petition and memorandum of law, and, even assuming that Hill's petition presents non-frivolous, legally plausible claims, the legal issues presented petition do not appear to be particularly complex. Second, Hill alleges that due to unspecified "policies and regulations of the prison" where he is incarcerated, he is "unable to obtain a written statement" from various unnamed witnesses and unable to "get in touch with them in any way." Id. (Dkt. #28). These conclusory and unsupported allegations do not provide a basis for this Court to find that an attorney is needed to assist Hill in investigating the facts to support his claim. Based on Hill's submissions to the Court so far, the Court sees no reason why the appointment of counsel would be more likely to lead to a just determination in his case. After reviewing Hill's application in light of the Hodge factors, Court finds that appointment of counsel would not be a warranted exercise of its discretion at this time.
Accordingly, the Court denies Hill's motion for appointment of counsel (Dkt. #28) without prejudice at this time. Hill may renew the motion if an evidentiary hearing is held in this matter. The Clerk of the Court is direct to send petitioner a copy of the pamphlet "The Pro Se Litigation Guidelines" and a copy of the Local Rules for Civil Procedure in the Western District of New York.